Tales of a Monstrous Heart is a gothic romantasy debut novel by Jennifer Delaney with the slowest of slow burns and filled with pure magic.

The book focuses on Kat, a fey woman, who has been continuously let down by the world, until she is offered a mage partnership with Lord Blackthorn. What follows is a tale of dark magic, curses, secrets and a hint of forbidden romance. There were so many elements to this book that I simply adored:
Jane Eyre inspired
Brooding MMC
Sentient House
Found Family
Dark Academia vibes
Female Rage: The Book (IYKYK)

I loved Delaney’s story telling and haunting descriptions. I had such strong images in my mind as I read through this book, getting chills from the darker elements and feeling my heart cracking in places.

I have to admit I did struggle to get through the first half of the book but I am 99% sure this is because I decided to start reading Tales in the height of summer… But, then the weather shifted becoming dark and gloomy and I flew through the last half of the book whilst rain poured down outside. It was perfect.

Tales of a Monstrous Heart enters the world tomorrow and I could not be more excited! I would highly recommend you pick up a copy of Tales if you are a fan of fantasy novels. It is the perfect read for this time of year and I have a feeling you are all going to love it. Delaney is an author to watch!

Thank you Jennifer Delaney, Gollancz and Netgalley for the ARC.

Kat is Fae and all she wants to do is graduate from the Institute of Magic and get a Mage Partnership... however being Fae the people in charge don't want 'her kind' around and will do anything they can to see she doesn't get anywhere

So with little option, Kat accepts a Partnership with the reclusive Lord Emrys Blackthorn, a cursed war hero who it seems that rumours of his death have been greatly exaggerated

Kat is struggling with her past and her and her Maid and friend, Alma, have got each other through thick and thin so when dark magic starts to cause some issues with Fae disappearances and mysteries, they need to get to the bottom of it.

Emrys and his ward William, will help where they can, but will Kat et all be able to get to the bottom of the issues, or will everyone suffer from the troubles on the horizon....

Great gothic lush story, the relationships between the characters were amazing. Kat and Alma have my heart, and I loved to see their connections with Emrys and William grow as well

Out tomorrow now (since I've stayed up way too late reading) and I just want to know... how long until book two Jennifer....

Thank you to NetGalley and Orion/Gollancz for the review copy... all opinions my own

Looking for a luscious gothic fantasy that will take your breath away and make you beg for more?
Jennifer Delaney has you covered!
This book is everything it promises to be and so much more. Action packed, dark, and beautifully written, it’s a dream come true for every fantasy reader who craves something Jane Eyre inspired, something perfect for this fall.
The characters, especially Kat, are beautifully written, and their stories well well-developed. While it is more of a slow burn, it doesn't affect the pacing of the book in the slightest - which is something not a lot of authors can pride themselves in.
As if that is not enough, the ending will wreck you. Good luck with that.

Thank you NetGalley and Gollancz for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love a dark academia novel, and this one does not disappoint. The fast paced page turning plot, the rich characters, the well developed story and wonderful writing style pulls this novel together seamlessly. I loved the characters and their developing relationship, I loved the magic. A fantastic read!

PHENOMENAL. OUT OF THIS WORLD. PERFECT!

Jennifer Delaney wrote a masterful tale that will keep the reader captivated feom the very first page.

What to expect:
- A Gothic Romantasy tale
- Dark Academia
- Jane Eyre inspired
- “Who did this to you”
- Delicious Slow Burn Romance

I’m absolutely in awe of Delaney’s writing, and the fact that this book is a debut novel blows my mind. This is beyond well written and executed and I’m looking forward to the next installment of this series!

I highly recommend this to any fantasy lovers!

A huge thank you to the publisher and author for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5-3 stars

Tales of a Monstrous Heart follows Katherine Woodrow, a fey who just wants to graduate from the Institute of Magic. However, the prejudiced mortal council are constantly trying to find ways to kick her out. Having run out of options, Kat accepts a Mage Partnership with the elusive Lord Emrys Blackthorn. When a string of murders herald the return of dark magic, Kat and Emrys are thrown into a world of monsters and nightmares, and mortal men who want nothing more than to see them both burn.

The vibes of this book were immaculate - think gothic, dark academia vibes with a sentient house, a slow-burn forbidden romance, and monsters. I think this would be a great book to read over the autumn months.

I enjoyed the characters, especially Kat who was smart, feisty and strong-willed. And of course, I was always going to love the dark, mysterious, brooding character of Emrys Blackthorn. The slow burn romance between the two wasn’t as slow as I thought it would be, but I still enjoyed it.

I did have some trouble with the writing, plot and pacing, which is why I couldn’t rate this book any higher. I found the writing to be a bit too over-descriptive, which distracted me from the plot. I also found it hard to get a grasp on the world, the politics, the magic system and the various magical creatures. The way that these were explained to the reader felt clunky and not well explained.

The plot felt very repetitive, and I feel like not much actually happened in this book until right at the end, which felt very rushed. However, the action scenes were well written and exciting to follow.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gollancz for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a huge fan of Jane Eyre so I had really high expectations for this! Magic, libraries and all the dark academia vibes have compelled me from the beginning bringing me in the complex world building and his mysteries. Kat is a character that I loved so much! Is very easy to empathise with her and Emrys is my new book boyfriend! I loved the writing and the found family so this book for me is a solid 5 stars read!

2.75⭐️😭 This is a dark academia gothic fantasy inspired by Jane Eyre with a sentient house, a sizzling slow burn, a mysterious and brooding love interest who does the Mr Darcy hand flex (!) and Emily Wilde but DARK vibes. It was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, I was lucky enough to be sent a sampler by the lovely author (which came with the best themed extras) and then very happy to be approved for an earc so thank you to Gollancz/Orion and Netgalley.

I wanted, so badly, to love this and there were some aspects of it that I did, Emrys was everything I want in a love interest- swoonworthy, brooding and mysterious with ‘touch her and die’ vibes. I liked the dark academia elements and there were other parts of this that I thought had the potential to be amazing which made me so conflicted when rating and reviewing this but sadly there were too many elements that just didn’t hit the mark for me.

It took me a while to get into the style of writing and to be immersed in the world and actually get a sense of what the characters goals were mainly for a few reasons. Firstly, It was very over descriptive and at times I had to re read sentences multiple times to take it in which meant I was a bit disconnected from what was going on. Secondly, the pacing was a little off at times but especially the ending which felt so abrupt to me and Finally, there were mistakes or issues with the writing that should have been picked up on and resolved during edits.

Disclaimer: I know that what I read was an arc and therefore an ‘uncorrected proof’ that is subject to change, so it isn’t uncommon for there to be some mistakes that will be edited out before publication.

BUT I found so many issues while reading this that I felt should have (and could have) been resolved during edits before getting to the arc stage. There were instances of incomplete sentences, grammatical issues and multiple occasions where the same descriptive words or phrasing was used within such close proximity to each other that it felt so clunky to read. I’m sorry to say this but I genuinely feel like there were some good ideas and a great foundation in terms of the plot and characters but that both the author and the novel were let down by bad editing because I do think without these issues my rating would have been MUCH higher.

Dark romance in a new gothic wonderland

Inspired by Jane Eyre but with a shocking deliciousness all of its own, Delaney's debut has world-building in spades, mysteries upon mysteries and protagonists who simply sizzle off the page. Kat Woodrow is a half-fey mage, anathema to the magical academics around her. Emrys Blackthorn is the unusual noble sorcerer who takes her in as a magical partner. And the world around them is in the throes of uneasy peace after years of magical war, the fey who once the enemy now reviled and tortured; but the darkness that both sides fear most is closer to the surface than anyone knows.

The world is complex, with at least three layers of history, of ancient sorcerer kings and queens, of a great war prosecuted by a despot monarch, and now, in its aftermath, a codified magical democracy of sorts, but one riven by class and privilege, by polite society and hidden barbs. Kat is a thrilling heroine, trying her best to sail under the notice of those who would destroy her for merely existing; but her nobility and her pride keep putting her in the way of challenges and obstacles, until she meets dark and brooding Emrys Blackthorn, a wayward lord who speaks truth to power while hiding mysterious depths of his own. As they circle around the little mysteries that keep coming before them, they stumble on greater and greater stakes, including romance and loyalty.

For lovers of spice, there's some but it's relatively chaste on the page. For lovers of fantasy, it's chock-full of new ideas and centuries or millennia of history, fantastical creatures and magic systems galore. For lovers of great writing, the length of this simply zips, by, with Delaney's writing evocative yet economical.

Four and a half stars: I cannot wait for the sequel.

Tales of a Monstrous Heart is a beautifully written magical retelling of Jane Eyre. There is magic galore and libraries and flexing of hands. It has all the cozy dark academia vibes whilst also being packed with action. Kat is fey and has spent a lot of her life being treated with distain, but when she goes to live with Emrys Blackthorn he makes her feel worthy and smart. I love their slow burn relationship (which gets a little spicy) and Emrys is definitely book boyfriend material - he is such a gentleman. Kat is a badass and we really get to see the extent of her powers as the book goes on. I love the element of found family with Alma and William.
The writing is gorgeous and that ending?! I didn’t originally realise it was a series, but I will be eagerly awaiting book 2.
If you liked Sorcery of Thorns you will love this.
“What a wicked thing youve done, Kat. To make it so I only dream of you.”

TALES OF A MONSTEROUS
HEART - JENNIFER
DELANEY - ARC
Jennifer Delaneys writing is BEAUTIFUL hard to believe that this is her debut novel!
Her world building and her story telling is immaculate. The story is so easy to follow even with all the information she gives to build the world. it's given slowly and not all at once and as the FMC and MMC are academics it's given in such a way you don't even know your being told something important. I am in awe of writers who can create a whole world, a new language and tell a competent story in between and that's what I feel she has done. By far one of my fave fantasy reads this year!
@rachaelmcreads

A gothic romantasy retelling of Jane Eyre with fey and dark academia vibes!?!?

This book is amazing - there is no other way to say it.
I loved the characters and romance and it is just such a good romantasy!! I can't wait for the next book in the trilogy

3 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2024/08/19/review-tales-of-a-monstrous-heart-by-jennifer-delaney/
My Five Word TL:DR Review : Mixed Feelings With This One

Tales of a Monstrous Heart has so many things that I was looking forward to and usually love in a novel. A gothic tale with hints of Jane Eyre and a brooding love interest. A world divided where the fae are treated as second class citizens and a return of darkness that brings with it a mystery to be solved before more fae are kidnapped and killed.

Katherine Woodrow is a fey student at the Institute of Magic. Unfortunately she’s usually in trouble with the mortal council who will pounce upon any excuse to try and expel her before she can complete her studies. As the story begins Katherine is once again in trouble and is only saved expulsion by a Mage Partnership offer by the elusive Lord Blackthorn (Emrys). Accepting this offer Katherine and her companion (and shape shifter) Alma take up residence at Blackthorn Manor. Soon enough these two central characters become embroiled in a mystery that both need to solve quickly before the encroaching darkness threatens their way of life.

What I really enjoyed about this. The writing is really good, it kept me hooked. This isn’t a short and snappy style but given the type of story I really liked the attention to detail and I loved all the details about the house.

I really liked the side characters. The house is practically a character itself. And I also have to give a shout out to Thean who is a deliciously wicked character. I liked Alma, Katherine’s constant companion since childhood although I felt she was a little under used and often seemed to appear simply at opportune moments to stage a rescue.

I think the author does a really good job of creating chemistry and tension between Katherine and Emrys, sly glances, hands brushing against each other all clearly leading to forbidden desires.

I found myself a little bit puzzled with the plot and the direction it took and this is an element to the book that I struggled with a little. In one respect I feel like I missed something and perhaps I did and need to go back and have a reread. In the earlier stages there’s quite a bit of history between mortals and fey to take on board and some of this felt a little clunky at times. On top of that I wasn’t always clear about the motivations of all the characters, other than the thirst for power – at any cost. The plot sometimes had a feeling of being simply too much. I would also say that Katherine is quite often placed in very difficult and upsetting circumstances and I didn’t really get a feel that Emrys helped very much – part of me thinks good for Katherine, she’s very capable and doesn’t need rescuing but at the same time I think it would be nice to feel that Emrys would at least speak up for her, which you would expect given he’s her mentor. Perhaps that’s a little wrong of me, clearly the two were playing roles in order to covertly investigate – but even so, it irritated me slightly.

Also, I would just mention that this ends on a cliffhanger which is not something I’m very fond of to be honest.

Overall, I enjoyed this because it’s well written and the characters were quite easy to like but I didn’t feel totally enamoured with it which is what I’d expected and I think the plot in some ways feels a bit convoluted. So, I have mixed feelings. I really like certain elements but others didn’t quite wow me. I can see why this would be popular though so don’t take my little niggles too seriously.

I received a copy though Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

This book was brilliant - I loved all the characters, the world was inventive, and the romance was swooooon worthy!

And that ending 😭😭😭😭

Will this have a sequel?? Because I need it asap!

This little group has most definitely become my favorite one this year! Kat, Emrys, Alma and William are just the most randomest group of people ever but I adore them so so much.

The angst, the tension (not only sexual), the found family and all the historical facts are phenomenal. I loved every aspect of this book, you get so swept away by the characters and their own personal stories. The mysteries in here are also so so good, for once I loved not knowing much.

Steady is the heart. Swift is the flame.

Howl’s Moving Castle meets Carnival Row meets Sorcery of Thorns meets Uprooted…

A gothic romantasy that leans heavily into the horror element, which I LOVE - whilst the romance is definitely present it’s certainly not the focus of the story. A young fey woman, beset by prejudice and trauma but with her own strange gifts and heritage, bolstered by a true friendship, is offered a mage partnership by a strange and reclusive lord with secrets of his own and a mysterious house. But what other darker horrors from the past are awakening to haunt them both - and can Kat face the truth?

Sentient house! Shapeshifting sword! I know you like grumpy-sunshine, but have you considered cynic-cynic, both giving hope to the other? How about a twist on animal companion where your best friend uncontrollably shapeshifts? Put in a slow burn, sl-o-o-o-w, and some spooky gothic vibes including exploring ancient haunted ruins, uncovering curses, dark magic, and monstrous creatures…

The atmospheric moments are powerfully done and the characters are executed well, as Delaney unwraps them layer by layer to give you insight into who they truly are. The worldbuilding is done with similar skill: you aren’t info-dumped; details are dropped in as you go so the world comes to life around you, complete with a menagerie of magical beasts, ancient curses, and many dark secrets to be uncovered.

Also featuring:

He binds her wounds!
A really awkward dinner party!
Regency style ball!
Touch her and die!
Why are you in my wardrobe?
Gender fluid shapeshifting rogue!
An absolutely beautiful friendship between women!

Top stuff, absolutely smashing.

This has to be one of my favourite reads, which blends fantasy and gothic with a sprinkle of dark academia.

The novel starts as a story inspired by Jane Eyre, with a disadvantaged heroine, a broody and moody Lord with a questionable reputation and a gothic setting. Soon, it becomes its own story, full of magic, dark secrets and a turbulent past that would not stay buried. Written in a beautiful style, it surprised me with a cast of loveable characters I deeply cared about and a captivating story that made the book hard to put down. Kat has become one of my favourite heroines, as she is intelligent, strong, brave, and determined to achieve her goals despite the prejudice she faces at every turn, but also fiercely protective of those she loves. The novel also has incredible side characters like Alma and William, who basically deserve their own stories. Moreover, the romantic subplot is a delicious slowburn, perfectly woven within the story without overpowering the plot. What more can we expect from a book?

I know I will not forget these characters soon, and I am waiting for the next instalment in this exciting series.

Thank you, NetGalley and publisher, for providing the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

All Katherine Woodrow wants to do is graduate from the Institute of Magic, but as a fey, the prejudiced mortal council are looking for any excuse to kick her out. Left with no other options, Kat must accept a Mage Partnership with the elusive Lord Emrys Blackthorn. Then, when a string of murders herald the return of dark magic, Kat and Emrys are thrown into a world of monsters and nightmares, and mortal men who want nothing more than to see them both burn.

This story is based (loosely) on Jane Eyre, but it gave me serious ACOTAR vibes, only, in my opinion, much better. We have a bright, feisty young woman who ends up living with a mysterious, moody, handsome man and – obviously – they fall in love while fighting evil. It’s an unoriginal concept, but placed in a magical, dark academia setting which worked pretty well.

I enjoyed the overall premise and the characters, but the plot was a little bit disappointing. I have to say, I enjoyed reading it, but I’d reached about 70% of the way through the book when I realised nothing had really happened. It started and ended well, but everything in between was a bit of a non-event; the entire plot could probably have been compressed into a few chapters.

With that in mind, there isn’t much more I can say about Tales of a Monstrous Heart – enjoyable but bang average.

This book is going to create some serious OBSESSIONS!

We follow Kat an academic researcher with a traumatic past and an urge to do whatever she can she make thinks right. After getting caught up in an unfortunate situation Kat's future - and life - suddenly hangs in the balance. Enter the mysterious and elusive Emrys Blackthorn.

I loved the darkness in this book, I adored the 'house' and the slow build romance had me absolutely hooked. The FMC has not had a great start in life and I always appreciate when we really see this play out in the plot, there is depth and rawness in how we see Kat dealing with her past and I felt I was able to connect with her and understand her 'jump before you think' decision making. I would have liked to have uncovered more about Emrys by the end of the book - he almost stayed slightly too mysterious.

I did struggle with the first half of the book, I felt as though I had missed the first few chapters and the plot was unclear at times. There were lots of Lords and other creatures to get to grips with and it was difficult to keep track of who was who and exactly who or what we were fighting against.

I would definitely recommend this book to friends and I'm excited to pick up a physical copy on release day!

I am really intrigued to see where the story goes and I'll be looking out for the next book.

This review is for Tales of A Monstrous Heart by Jennifer Delaney which will be released in the UK on the 29th August! Thanks so much to Netgalley and Gollancz for giving me an eArc copy for this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was one of my favourite reads so far this year. That’s it. That’s all I need to say, you need to read this book!!!

The story focuses on Katherine, a fey woman whose greatest dream is to graduate the Institute of Magic and show the world that fey can be real mages too. Along the way she’s is bombarded with insults and prejudice from the institutes council and the other students around her that seem determined to thwart her success. Until the day she receives a mysterious offer for a mage partnership from Lord Blackthorn who all the records say should be dead…

It’s fast paced, brilliantly written and will leave you wanting more (I will not ruin the ending I SWEAR). It’s based on Jane Eyre, so it’s gothic with a brooding, dark haired love interest (my favourite) and dark and twisted powers trying to crawl their way back into the world anyway they can. It also has a slightly sassy sentient house, which is personally a new favourite trope of mine and I hope to see more of.

I loved the main character Katherine, she was a strong independent woman shoved into a time and place where her strength was not appreciated by the small minded men and women surrounding her. However, you do find throughout the book that she’s scared of her own strength, both physical and magical as she knows what she can do if she fully lets go. I LOVED the tension between her and the MMC Emrys, it was forbidden love (even more so by the end but again no spoilers) but I also liked the familial friendship she had with Alma. Sisters forged through trauma. I also loved Emrys on his own, he’s perfectly mysterious, brooding, thoughtful, accepting, and protective all in one tall, dark package.

I could go on and on about how obsessed I am with this book! Simply put this debut novel is beautiful and I loved every second.
If you enjoy a book with a forbidden slow burn romance, found family, and an ancient evil to destroy all set in a gothic academic world, then you need to read this book!